This year’s Top 101 contains many more newcomers than that of 2015. Thanks to industry consolidation, the bottom nine alone are all new to the list. Here’s a glance at some of the newbies, many of whom are strategically focused on foodservice and technology.
Shop 24 Global LLC
101 ranking: 38, tied with Convenient Food Mart
No. of Locations: 250
Headquarters: Westerville, Ohio
Average store size: Less than 500 square feet
Trivia: These fully automated c-stores are open 24 hours a day. Many are located on college campuses, where customers can pay with their student cards.
Tri Star Energy LLC (Twice Daily)
101 ranking: 73
No. of locations: 84
Headquarters: Nashville, Tenn.
Average store size: 2,500 to 4,000 square feet
Trivia: In 2015, the chain acquired all six Home Depot Fuel convenience stores (four in Tennessee and two in Georgia) and will rebrand them as T-Fuel.
Sampson-Bladen Oil Co.
101 ranking: 85, tied with Toot’n Totum Food Stores LLP
No. of locations: 76
Headquarters: Raleigh, N.C.
Average store size: 2,300 square feet
Trivia: A store in Duck, N.C., is connected to a gourmet seafood restaurant. Cravings Steaks & Seafood offers everything from lobster rolls to seafood pots (seafood dinners served in a bucket and available to go).
Country Fair Inc.
101 ranking: 93
No. of locations: 71
Headquarters: Erie, Pa.
Average store size: 2,500 to 4,000 square feet
Trivia: United Refining purchased the chain in 2001, but most stores still retain one or two red barn-like exterior walls in a nod to Country Fair’s history, which goes back to the mid-1960s.
Stinker Stores
101 ranking: 96, tied with Dandy Mini Marts Inc.
No. of locations: 65
Headquarters: Boise, Idaho
Average store size: 2,500 square feet
Trivia: The chain’s iconic skunk logo and mascot, Polecat Pete, was the brainchild of Farris Lind, who founded Stinker Stores in 1936.
Enmark Stations Inc.
101 ranking: 101
No. of locations: 61
Headquarters: Savannah, Ga.
Average store size: 1,000 to 2,500 square feet
Trivia:In 2015, the chain announced a branding change to reflect its broader fresh food and health commitments. The new brand—enmarket—and new logo were unveiled at a store in Savannah, with all stores to be rebranded within a year.
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